Blood, sweat and tears but still West Ham are in the bottom three at New Year

West Ham United's Andre Ayew (right) celebrates scoring his side's second goal of the game during the Premier League match at Selhurst Park, London.

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Dave Evans looks at the rollercoaster ride that has faced West Ham fans so far this season

West HamÕs Arthur Masuaku crosses into the Bournemouth area during the Premier League match at the Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth. PRESS ASSOCIATION

After all the fine and surprising results against the Premier League big boys; after the watertight defensive formation that new boss David Moyes introduced, West Ham will have started 2018 sitting in the bottom three and with plenty of problems.

They were certainly not helped by the disgraceful overrule of Bournemouth’s injury-time equaliser on Boxing Day by referee Bobby Madley.

Nowhere near in line with the play, he discarded the linesman’s decision to rule it offside and at the same time, they both missed Callum Wilson putting the ball in with his arm.

It was a similar situation at the beginning of the season when Southampton were awarded a last-minute penalty for what looked an innocuous push by Pablo Zabaleta.

West Ham United's James Collins celebrates scoring his side's first goal of the game during the Premier League match at the Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth

That cost the Hammers a point, while the Bournemouth game resulted in two points lost and it has been a sign of what has gone wrong this season under both Slaven Bilic and now Moyes.

Bilic had to go. He was too close to his team and that meant a lack of discipline and a lack of intensity in training which affected them on the pitch.

He had done well in his tenure at the club, but he had taken the team as far as they could go, especially after the mutiny of his man Dimitri Payet.

Moyes came in on a contract until the end of the season and it was fair to say that he arrived with low expectations among the fans.

AFC Bournemouth goalkeeper Asmir Begovic (left) slips as he tries to clear the ball leaving West Ham United's Marko Arnautovic to score his sides second goal of the game during the Premier League match at the Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth.

But his training methods seem to have a positive effect and the games against Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal showed just what his West Ham team could do.

He made it five at the back, gave Arthur Masuaku his head on the left-hand side and turned around the floundering West Ham career of Marko Arnautovic.

He helped the team to their first away league win of the season at Stoke City, but it was after that win that the wheels came off once again.

Moyes decided to rest players for the Carabao Cup quarter-final at Arsenal. They lost and it seemed to lose the team their momentum as they then lost at home to a poor Newcastle side.

West Ham United's Pablo Zabaleta (left) and AFC Bournemouth's Adam Smith battle for the ball during the Premier League match at the Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth.

Then came that Bournemouth game which they would have won, but for that dreadful refereeing decision.

But in truth, it was an equaliser that was waiting to happen. The Cherries, like the Magpies, seemed to cut through the West Ham defence at will and though they were lucky to get that goal, they always looked like they might get it.

Late goals have been a story of the season. They have let in eight goals in seven games in the final 10 minutes of games.

There were two against Manchester United on the opening day, but one apiece against Southampton, Newcastle, Burnley, Crystal Palace, Manchester City and Bournemouth.

West Ham United's Mark Noble scores his side's first goal of the game during the Premier League match at the bet365 Stadium, Stoke.

That has cost them seven precious points that would have put them in 11th place in the Premier League rather than third from bottom and we would not be holding this inquest.

Players need to improve. We need to see more from Andy Carroll, Manuel Lanzini, Cheikhou Kouyate, Winston Reid and Javier Hernandez.

These are some of the key players for the club, quality Premier League players who if they are firing on all cylinders would make sure that West Ham are not battling among the relegation candidates.

But Moyes has a lot of work to do. He must find the right formation to get his best players on the field, while he must add some steel and determination to the squad with some fresh players.

West Ham United goalkeeper Joe Hart (pic Adam Davy/PA)

The new manager is in a hurry. He has only until the end of the season to prove that he deserves a new contract.

It is not inconceivable that this West Ham team could go down, but they should be good enough to stay up and do a little bit more.

Surely there are at least three teams who are worse than the Hammers.

West Ham United goalkeeper Adrian during the Premier League match at the be

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